RPS Group plc (LSE: RPS) is a global professional services firm of consultants and service providers, headquartered in Abingdon-on-Thames, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by Tetra Tech in January 2023.
 | |
| Formerly | Rural Planning Services |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public limited company |
| LSE: RPS | |
| Industry | Environmental consulting, Upstream Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy consulting |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Abingdon-on-Thames, England |
Key people | Ken Lever (Chairman) John Douglas (CEO) |
| Revenue |  £560.4 million (2021)[1] |
| £28.3 million (2021)[1] | |
| £5.9 million (2021)[1] | |
Number of employees | 5,000 (2022)[2] |
| Website | www.rpsgroup.com |
History edit
RPS was founded in 1970, as Rural Planning Services,[3] with founder Michael Boddington as its first chief executive.[4] It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1987.[3]
In the late 20th century, the company expanded under the leadership of a later chief executive, Alan Hearne, and in 2001 he received the Financial Times / London Stock Exchange Entrepreneur of the Year award and company was nominated in the top four for PLC of the Year in the same awards.[5]
In August 2022, WSP Global made a takeover offer to purchase RPS Group for £591 million.[6][7][8] In September 2022, RPS received a counter takeover offer from Tetra Tech for £636 million[9] with WSP opting not to increase its bid.[10] RPS' shareholders voted to accept the Tetra Tech offer in November 2022[11] and it was approved by the court in January 2023.[12]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2021" (PDF). RPS Group. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "This is our story". RPS Group. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b Corporate factsheet RPS Group
- ^ Hearne A.S. (1977) The Impact of Major New Roads on Agriculture: Economic and Procedural Aspects, PhD Thesis at the University of Aston in Birmingham, see acknowledgements and Ch8, p 191, Introduction, 1.1: A S Hearne is the CEO of RPS Group plc; Edwards, Angela & Alan Rogers (1974) Agricultural Resources: An Introduction to the Farming Industry of the United Kingdom, London, Faber and Faber, see list of Contributors and Ch 11 pp245-268 and Ch12 pp 269-292; Economic Forestry Group (November 1973) Newsletter Forestry House, Great Milton, Oxford OX9 7PG
- ^ "Into the big time". New Cilvil Engineer. 1 March 2003. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ Prior, Grant (9 August 2022). "WSP to buy consultant RPS Group for £591m". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "RPS board backs WSP takeover offer". The Construction Index. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ WSP agrees deals to buy out RPS New Civil Engineer 9 August 2022
- ^ Prior, Grant (26 September 2022). "US consultant trumps WSP bid for RPS Group". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ Prior, Grant (11 October 2022). "WSP declines to enter bidding war for RPS Group". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Results of Court Meeting and General Meeting RPS Group 3 November 2022
- ^ "RPS Group Says High Court Of Justice In England And Wales Has Sanctioned Scheme Pursuant To Acquisition". Reuters. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.